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Springbok legend Chester Williams dies

rugby06 September 2019 17:05| © SuperSport
By:Brenden Nel
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Springbok Rugby legend Chester Williams died Friday of a heart attack at the age of just 49.

The face of the 1995 Rugby World Cup Springbok campaign, former Springbok in both fifteens and Sevens, and a former Springbok Sevens coach, Williams was one of the true gentlemen of the game.

And it was with shock that the news of his death was received across the country as he became the fifth member of the victorious 1995 Rugby World Cup team to pass on. Williams joins James Small, Joost van der Westhuizen, Ruben Kruger and coach Kitch Christie as part of the 1995 squad who are no longer with us.

Williams will always hold a special place in the hearts of those who met him, as well as every Springbok supporter to cheer the team on.

While he rose to prominence in the Western Province jersey and for the Boks, off the field he was blessed with a kind heart, a massive smile and an ear to all those who would listen.

Just these past few weeks he was waxing lyrical about his new project – Chesters lager – which he planned to launch at the Rugby World Cup in Japan and he was successfully heading the University of the Western Cape’s sports transition to rugby success as head coach with the team winning the Varsity Shield in 2017.

His exploits on the field were many, but none more than in the Rugby World Cup, where he earned the nickname “the black pearl” and was the only black member of the 1995 squad that won South Africa’s first World Cup.

While he was injured in the tournament he returned when the Springboks lost players to suspension, and completed a magical final as the Boks defeated New Zealand to win the World Cup.

He made his debut for the Boks at the tender age of 23 against Argentina in 1993 in Buenos Aires, scoring a try in the process and went on to win 27 caps, scoring 14 tries for the Springboks.

At Western Province he had 63 caps for his province and was a beloved member of the Province side in the 90s. He also played for the Lions in his last season on the field where he won a Currie Cup title with him and also was part of the 1998 Tri Nations winning team.

Williams played for the Springbok Sevens side from 1993-1998 and then took over the coaching role between 2001 and 2003 where he coached the Bok Sevens to their first Dubai Sevens title.

It was in 2004 that he coached the Cats in Super Rugby before short stints with Tunisia and Uganda as coach.

Williams was also one of the few South Africans to carry the Olympic torch ahead of the Athens games in 2004.

Off the field he had a great sense of humour, and was always willing to chat rugby. A keen joker, Williams was one of the more approachable players of his era, and will always have a special place in South African rugby history.

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